Supporting means for ladders and scaffolds



Nov. 10, 1959 E. s. ELLICKSON 2,912,207

SUPPORTING MEANS FOR LADDERS AND SCAFFOLDS Filed March 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EUGENE G- ELI-\QKS N 4770R/VE Y Nov. 10, 1959 E. ca. ELLICKSON 2,912,207 SUPPORTING MEANS FOR LADDERS AND SCAFFOLDS Filed March 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EUGENE e. smexs ou AMA/er United States Patent G SUPPORTING MEANS FOR LADDERS AND SCAFFOLDS This invention relates to a scaffold supporting bracket for ladders.

My bracket comprises a platform rest arm provided with a lateral arm at its outer end and a pivotal angular gripping portion at its opposite end. A member is slidably mounted on the rest arm. The outer end of the slidable member is provided with an angular portion spaced apart in parallel relation from the angular portion on the rest arm. A bifurcated element extends at a right angle from the angular portion on sliding member toward theinner end of the bracket. A depending and rearwardly extending bar extends from the sliding member. A brace is secured to the intermediate portion of the depending arm and is adapted to be detachably connected to the intermediate portion of the rest arm.

It is an object of this invention to provide in a ladder bracket means for quickly and securely mounting the bracket to the rail and rung of the ladder.

It is another object of this invention to provide in a ladder bracket, means for gripping one edge of a rail of a ladder and sliding means for securing the bracket to a rung of the ladder adjacent to the portion of the rail upon which the bracket is mounted and the means on the sliding means for the abutting opposite edge of the rail of the ladder.

It is still another object of this invention to provide in a ladder bracket means for using the bracket for supporting the ladder from the ground.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in a ladder bracket, means for mounting the bracket on one side of the peak of a roof and the ladder being supported on the roof on the other side of the peak of the roof.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a multiple purpose ladder bracket which may be used in many ways about a building.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is top plan view of the ladder bracket.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the ladder bracket mounted to a ladder.

Figure 3 is a side view of the ladder bracket attached to a ladder as a support therefor.

Figure 4 is a side View of the ladder bracket attached to a ladder and being used on a roof of a house.

Referring in detail to drawings, 20 is a ladder bracket comprising a horizontal platform rest arm 22 of metal provided with a bent outer end 24. An angular gripping portion or lug 26 is pivotally secured to the inner end of the rest arm 22 by a pivot pin 28.

A member 30 is slidably mounted on the rest arm 22 by means of a pin means 32 extending into a slot 34 adjacent the inner end of the rest arm 22.

A portion 36 extends at a right angle adjacent the 2 inner end of the sliding member 36, which portion 36 is in parallel relationship with the gripping member or lug 26. A bifurcated element 38 provided with an open recess 40 in its free end extends at a rightangle from the portion 36. The bifurcated element 38 is parallel to the rest arm 22. y

As shown the sliding member 30 is provided with a depending and rearwardly extending arm 42. A brace arm 44 is connected to the intermediate portion of the depending arm 42. The upper end of the brace arm 44 is provided with spaced apertures 59 and 61 and is adapted to be fastened by bolt and nut means in spaced apart apertures and 62, in the intermediate portion of the rest arm 22. These spaced apertures in the upper end of the brace arm 44 and the rest arm 22 provide different angular positions for the inner end of the rest arm 22 so that the bracket 20 will engage the ladder tightly when it is positioned at different angles with respect to the ladder. An angular lug 46 is pivoted to the lower end of the brace arm 42. As shown the arm 42 is formed in two parts, a lower arm portion 45 .being secured by bolt and nut means 47 to the upper portion of the arm 42.

The gripping portion 26 on the inner end of the rest arm 22 abutted against the rear side edge of the rail 84 of a ladder adjacent a rung of the ladder which is at the desired height at which a scaffold is to be placed on the bracket 20. The bolt and nut means which connects the brace arm 44 with the rest arm 22 are unscrewed to permit the brace arm 44 to be disconnected from the rest arm 22 thus permitting the sliding member 30- to be moved either toward the inner end of the rest arm 22 or rearwardly on the rest arm 22 until its angular portion 36 abuts the outer edgeof the rail 84 of the ladder. When the angular portion 36 engages the outer edge of the rail 84, the rung of the ladder is received into the recess 40 of the bifurcated element 38. When the rung of the ladder is received in the recess 40 of the bifurcated element 38, the bifurcated element 38 substantially closes the opening into the recess 29 formed by the lug 26, angular portion 36 and the outer end of the rest arm 22 interposed between them. Part 48 of the lug 46 on the lower end of brace arm 44 engages the front edge of the rail 84 and portion 50 abuts the side of the rail 84. The lower end of the brace arm 44 aids in supporting the bracket 20 on the ladder 85. Now the bolt and nut means secures the brace arm 44 to the rest arm 22 thus securely holding the bifurcated element 38 on the rung of the ladder.

The bracket 20 as now mounted to one rail 84 ;of a ladder extends outwardly from the ladder. A second bracket 20'can be likewise secured at the same height to the other rail of the same ladder for supporting a small platform.

If it is desired to support a large platform, then a bracket 20 is secured to the rails of two spaced apart ladders. v

The bracket 20 may be secured to a rail and rung of a ladder and act as support for a ladder and the lateral arm 24 prevent the ladder slipping by penetrating into the ground. See Figure 3. I

Figure 4 shows the bracket 20 secured to the rail 84 of a ladder and its upper rung and is mounted on the peak of a roof. i

My ladder brackets 20 can be used as a scaffold support, a ladder support and for many other uses. The bracket 20 can be used to space a ladder from a wall when the bracket is secured on the inside of the ladder and the outer end of rest arm 22 and arm 45 abuts the wall of the house.

The elements of the bracket 20 are all preferably made of metal but other appropriate materials may be used.

The parts of the bracket 29 are so constructed to coact and supplement each other that a very efficient and useful bracket has been devised.

It will be understood that the preferred form of the invention has been selected for illustration and description and that changes may be made in the several parts of the bracket and in their inter-relation without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited excepting by the scope of appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ladder bracket comprising a platform rest arm, a member on the inner end of the rest arm so shaped to engage one side of a rail of a ladder, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, an angular portion formed on the slidable member for engaging the opposite side of the rail, a bifurcated portion formed on the angular portion of the slidable member providing a notch for engaging a rung of the ladder, means for securing the slidable member to the rest arm, an extension member rigid with the slidable member extending at an angle to the rest arm, a brace member secured to the extension member, and means adjustably connecting the brace member and said rest arm.

2. A ladder bracket comprising a rest arm, a member on the inner end of the rest arm so shaped to engage one side of a rail of a ladder, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, means on the slidable member for engaging the opposite side of the rail of the ladder, and means on the sliding member for engaging a rung of the ladder, an extension member rigid with the slidable member extending at an angle to the rest arm, a brace member secured to the extension member, and means adjustably connecting the brace member and said rest arm.

3. A ladder bracket comprising a rest arm, a member on the inner end of the rest arm so shaped to engage one side of a rail of a ladder, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, an angular portion formed on the slidable member for engaging the opposite side of the rail, a notch portion formed on the angular portion of the slidable member for engaging a lung of the ladder, a depending rearwardly extending arm formed on the slidable member; a brace arm connected to the rearwardly and extending arm extending to an intermediate portion of the rest arm, means on the lower end of the brace arm for engaging the rail of a ladder, and means for adjustably securing the brace arm to the rest arm.

4. A ladder bracket comprising a rest arm, a pivotal jaw mounted on the inner end of the rest arm for engaging one side of a rail of a ladder, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, an angular element formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end provided with a first portion for engaging a second and opposite side of the rail, the first portion of the angular element spaced in parallel relation to the pivotal jaw and a second angular portion formed on the angular element being in spaced parallel relationship with the rest arm thereby forming a partially open recess on one side in the bracket adjacent its inner end, a bifurcated portion formed on the second angular portion of t slidable member and extending in spaced parallel rel. with the rest arm for engaging a rung of the ladder, the bifurcated portion when moved to engage the rung of the ladder substantially closing the partially open side of the recess and substantially abutting a third side of the rail, a depending and rearwardly extending arm connected to the slidable member, a brace arm connected to an intermediate portion of the depending arm and extending to an intermediate portion of the rest arm, and means for adjustably securing the brace arm to the rest arm.

5. A ladder bracket comprising a rest arm, a pivotal aw mounted on the inner end of the rest arm for engagmg a side of a rail of a ladder, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, an angular element formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end having a first portion for en aging the opposite side of the rail, the first portion of the angular element spaced in parallel relation to the pivotal jaw and a second portion formed on the angular element and spaced in parallel relation with the rest arm thereby forming a partially open recess on one side in the bracket adjacent its inner end, a bifurcated portion formed on the first portion of the angular element of the slidable member and extending in spaced parallel relation with the rest arm for engaging a rung of the ladder, the bifurcated portion when moved to engage the rung of the ladder substantially closing the partially open side of the recess and substantially abutting a third side of the rail, a depending and rearwardly extending arm connected to the slidable member, a brace arm connected to an intermediate portion of the de pending arm are extending to an intermediate portion of the rest arm, and means for adjustably securing the brace arm to the rest arm, and a lateral arm formed on the outer end of the rest arm.

6. A ladder bracket comprising a horizontal rest arm,

a pivotal jaw secured to the inner end of the rest arm extending at an angle to the rest arm, a member slidably mounted on the horizontal rest arm, an angular element formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end and having a first portion being in spaced parallel relation with the pivotal jaw, a second portion formed on the angular element and provided with a bifurcated portion extending toward the pivotal jaw and being in spaced parallel relationship to the rest arm, an extension member rigid with the slidable member extending at an angle to the rest arm, a brace member secured to the extension member, and means adjustably connecting the brace member and said rest arm.

7. A ladder bracket comprising a horizontal rest arm, a pivotal lug secured to the outer end of the rest arm extending at an angle to the rest arm, a member slidably mounted on the horizontal rest arm, an angular element formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end and having a first portion being in spaced parallel relation with the pivotal lug, a second portion formed on the angular element provided with a bifurcated portion extending toward the pivotal lug and being parallel to the rest arm, a rearwardly depending arm formed on the slidable member, a brace arm connected to an intermediate portion of the depending arm, the upper end of the brace arm being adjustably secured to the rest arm, and an angular lug on the lower end of the brace arm.

8. A ladder bracket comprising a horizontal rest arm, a pivotal lug secured to the inner end of the rest arm extending at an angle to the rest arm, a member slidably mounted on the horizontal rest arm, an angular portion formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end being in spaced panallel relation with the pivotal lug, a bifurcated portion formed on the angular portion of the slidable member extending toward the pivotal jaw and being parallel to the rest arm, a rearwardly extending and downwardly depending arm formed on the slidable member, a brace arm connected to the said depending arm being provided with spaced apertures, the horizontal rest arm being provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures and fastening means for securing the brace arm to the horizontal rest arm in different adjusted positions.

9. A ladder bracket comprising a horizontal rest arm, a pivotal lug secured to the outer end of the rest arm extending at an angle to the rest arm, a member slidably mounted on the horizontal rest arm, an angular element formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end and having a first portion being in spaced parallel relation with the pivotal lug, a second portion formed on the angular element provided with a bifurcated portion extending toward the pivotal jaw and being in spaced parallel relationship to the rest arm, and an angular portion formed on the outer end of the horizontal arm, an extension member rigid with the slidable member extending at an angle to the rest arm, a brace member secured to the extension member, and means adjustably connecting the brace member and said rest arm.

10. In a ladder bracket-comprising a platform rest arm, an angular jaw formed on the inner end of the rest arm, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, an angular jaw formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end, the angular jaw on the slidable member extending from the same side of the rest arm as the angular jaw on the rest arm, an angular bifurcated portion formed on the angular jaw on the slidable member extending toward the jaw on the inner end of the rest arm,

an extension member rigid with the slidable member 15 extending at an angle to the rest arm, a brace member secured to the extension member, and means adjustably connecting the brace member and said rest arm.

11. In a ladder bracket comprising a platform rest arm, an angular jaw formed on the inner end of the rest arm, a member slidably mounted on the rest arm, an angular jaw formed on the slidable member adjacent its inner end, the angular jaw on the slidable member extending from the same side of the rest arm as the angular jaw on the rest arm, an angular bifurcated portion formed on the angular jaw on the slidable member extending toward the jaw on the inner end of the rest arm, an arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from the slidable member, and a brace arm 'fiastened to an intermediate portion of the rearwardly extending arm, extending to an intermediate portion of the rest arm and being adjustably secured thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

